Subject: RE: loops eat headlamps? (and other questions)
Author: Greg Bender
Date: Jun 3, 2005, 8:01 AM
Post ID: 1718967937
Hi Mark,
A couple of things I would check on the headlight issue...
1. Be sure that you have the large gasket/o-ring that fits between the
headlight retaining ring and the headlight itself. If missing or badly
disentegrated, I suppose it is possible that the headlight could jiggle
around, causing premature burn out. For a replacement, do the Mark
Etheridge trick and cut a length of screen-door/screen-window rubber to
fit (the piece that you press into the channel that keeps the screen in
place).
2. It could be that your voltage regulator is allowing too much voltage
into your system. You may want to take a look at the voltage with the
engine running at different RPMs (checking at the battery is fine). As a
general rule, anything under about 14.5 is probably fine. If it get's
over 15, I'd replace the voltage regulator. I'm sure the electrical
wizards on the list will correct me if my numbers are out of bounds.
Check my website for cross-references to either the Bosch or Marelli
version - depending on the generator that is installed on your loop.
3. If your wiring is in bad shape, any one of a number of issues could
be doing weird things, too.
mark arrington wrote:
howdy, my ambo goes through headlamps really quick. i'm on my third one in less than 1000mi. i'm wondering about possible causes? the two i've installed were sylvania 55/65watt standard halogen round low/hi car lamps. my switch is an aftermarket, pseudo modern (probably japanese) horn/light switch. i lose my high beam first, then not too long after, the low beam goes. i wonder if this is an electrical short problem (no fuses blown) or a power management problem related to the "increased wattage" of the lamp relative to the original. the battery is fine, and the charging system works fine, and the bike starts with no problem. it's also possible that hitting potholes has bounced the filament and blown the bulb. has anyone else had these problems and is there any way to deal with it (i live in jersey, so not hitting potholes isn't an option :-))) |
Regards,
Greg Bender
1971 Ambassador
2000 Quota
http://www.thisoldtractor.com/gtbender
Florida MGNOC website
http://www.thisoldtractor.com/fl_mgnoc
Minnesota MGNOC website
http://www.thisoldtractor.com/mn_mgnoc